Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer voted today to accept $300,000 to increase climate resiliency by growing green jobs, increasing healthcare access, and improving road safety, along with her colleagues.  The funds are the result of a successful application to the state of California that the County Board of Supervisors voted to approve in June 2022.

“This is further proof that our efforts to make sure San Diego gets the funding it deserves from the state are working. These funds are all about helping us fight climate change and making our communities stronger,” said Supervisor Lawson-Remer, Vice Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “These projects will make our roads safer, connect young people to jobs, grow local businesses, and help more of our neighbors access the healthcare they need.”

Paid through the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, the Transformative Climate Communities grant supports programs and infrastructure projects that achieve major environmental, health, and economic benefits in California’s most underserved communities. 

The grant will help fund five projects:

• Preserving land for community needs: A feasibility study to identify options for a Community Land Trust, a structure that allows land to be held “in trust” for community needs, outside of the influence of market pressures.  CLTs are used to increase financial equity, and stability for residents. 

• Reducing travel times and improving road safety: An assessment focused on making it easier and safer to walk, bike, and take transit. The study will audit non-motorized transportation options for first- and last-mile areas, which are often the most difficult connection points between a transit stop and the beginning and end of your trip. The study will help identify opportunities for improvement for cyclists, pedestrians, and transit users. 

• Growing green jobs: The development of a program and construction design plans for a community-based kitchen and composting facilities that will support increased opportunities for employment for young people from agriculture to food service. Supporting the local food system also has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

• Increasing healthcare access: An assessment of the potential to open a Federally Qualified Health Center that would offer comprehensive healthcare services for low-income residents in Spring Valley to increase access to public health resources.

• Strengthening local economy: Facilitation of community connections to existing and new businesses, further expanding economic, workforce, and business opportunities.

The projects are part of the Spring Valley Sustainable Environments and Engaged Development Strategies (S.E.E.D.S.) initiative, which aims to increase economic resiliency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and address public and environmental health issues. Learn more here.